Door-check



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. I. BLOUNT.

DOOR CHECK.

No. 435,677. Patented Sept. 2,1890.

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Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE I. BLOUNT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BLOUNTMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MAINE.

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,677, datedSeptember 2, 1890. Application filed April 2, 1889. Serial No. 305.674.(-No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE I. BLOUNT, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Door-Checks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, relating to door-checks generally, and particularly todoor-checks in which oil, glyccrine, or other suitable liquid isemployed as a cushioning means, has for its object the provision ofimprovements which shall avoid leakage of the liquid from the device,automatically control or adjust the valves to accommodate the latter tothe 15 varying temperature and consequent variation in the stiffness ofthe liquid, and overcome other objections and afford new advantages, asis hereinafter more fully described, and subsequently pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings hereunto annexed and forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved doorcheck,the bracket for securing the actuatingarm to the door being turnedupward. Fig. 2 2 is a plan view of my improved door-check, showing themanner of applying the same to the door and its casing. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view of the spring-casing and liquidcup andassociated parts, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line t 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6isa perspectiveview of the spring-casing and liquidcup, showing 35 the contrivancesarranged and operating in the latter. Fig. 7 is a side view, inverted,of the devices for operating upon the liquid in the liquid-cup. Fig. 8is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9is a sectional detail taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is asectional detail taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Figs. 6 to 10,inclusive, are drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 11 is a detail showingthe end of the arm projecting from the bracket secured to the door. Fig.12 is a sectional detail taken on the line 12 12 of Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is asectional detail taken on the line 13 13 of Fig. 1.

The same letters and figures of reference in- 50 dicate the same partsin all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, D designates a door, and (J the door-casing.

a designates a short cylinder divided horizontally by the partition ainto two compartments 1) c, the former constituting a spring- 5 5 casingand the latter a liquid-cup.

Caps (1 and c are suitably secured upon the ends of the cylinder, and ahole is formed in the cap to the spring-casing and in the partition afor the reception of the axle or spindle f, which is suitably stepped orhas a bearing for its inner end formed upon the inner surface of the cap6 of the liquid-cup.

g designates a coiled spring arranged in the spring-casing b and havingits outer end secured to said casing and its inner end engaged with asleeve h, which extends through a hole in the cap (1, and through whichsleeve the axle f is passed, as clearly shown in Figs.

3 and 4. Said sleeve h is provided on its outer end with alaterally-extending segment or arm 2', having ratchet-teeth j on itsperiphery, which ratchet-teeth are engaged by a pawl 70, pivoted on theouter end of an arm Z, keyed or otherwise secured at its inner end toshaft f. Said arm Zis also secured to or may be made as an integral partof a lever m.

The cylinder 0. is provided with a bracket or base a, whereby it may besecured to a door-casing C.

o designates a bracket adapted to be sooured to a door and provided withan arm 1), having a ball-and-socket-joint connection with one end of alink-rod q, the opposite end of which has aball-and-socket-joint-connection with the free end of arm 1%, as shown.

With the construction and arrangement of parts thus far described itwill be understood that upon opening the door D the arm m will be movedthrough the medium of linkrod q so as to turn axle f and sleeve 71., thelatter operating to wind up spring g, increasing the tension on thelatter, which will tend to move the arm back to its normal position andclose the door with considerable 5 force, such force being renderedgreater or less in accordance with the adjustment of the pawl k with theratchet-teeth j, as will be readily understood from an inspection of thedrawings. 10o

In order to cushion the force of the spring and cause the door to movefrom an open toward aclosed position comparatively quickly and then befully closed with a comparatively slow movement, I provide devices whichoperate in the liquid-cup, which devices will be next described.

Shaft f is provided near its inner end with an enlarged hub r, which isloosely though closely fitted between the inner ends of verticalpartitions s, extending from the sides of the liquid-cup and between thepartition a and cap e. Said partitions s are provided with apertures t,the latter being covered on one side of the partition 8 byaclapper-valve u, as is most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 10.

Hub 0* is provided with wings or arms 1;, which extend to the sides ofthe cup 0 and between the partitions a and cap c, which wings areprovided with small apertures w, adapted to be opened and closed by apivoted valve 00, the free end of which is connected to the free end ofa coiled spring y, the other end of said spring being connected to thewing o. The spring 3 is composed of two strips of metal 2 3, (see Figs.8 and 9,) possessing expansive and contractive properties in difierentdegree under the same temperature, so that as the liquid which maybeused in the cup 0 becomes warmed or is chilled in accordance with thecondition as to temperature of the atmosphere the spring will have atendency to coil more closely or to uncoil, as the case may be, and sopartially or wholly close the aperture to or open the same.

2 z designate apertures formed in the hub 'r and extending transverselyfromits periphery to a central point, where they com municate with-abore or hole extending longitudinally in the axle f from the top of thesame into the hub r.

b designates a plunger or ranged in the hole in axle f, in Fig. 7,) saidplunger 6 being so constructed and arranged that it may be made topartially or wholly close the lower end of the hole formed in axle f,and thus partially or wholly cut off communication of the apertures 2' Zwith each other, this result being accomplished by raising or loweringthe rod b in the hole in axle f, and this may be done by givingplunger-rod b a screw-threaded connection with the upper end of saidaxle or in any other suitable way.

The operation of my complete device may be described as follows: Theseveral parts being arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the cup0 being filled with a suitable liquidsay glycerine or oiland the pawlbeing adjusted with such tooth of the ratchetsegment j as will give therequired tension or force to the spring g, upon opening the door thewings 1) will be moved in the cup 0 in the direction of the arrow, Fig.8, forcing the liquid in said cup through the aperture in the partitionss, the clapper-valves u yielding to allow of this, and at the same timewindstopple rod ar- (see dotted lines ing up the spring g and increasingthe tension or force of the same. WVhen the door is released, the springg will operate to return the parts to their normal position andconsequently close the door; but as the aperturest will be closed by theclapper-valves u, and the liquid in the cup 0 will be allowed to escapefrom in front of the wings '2) (considered with respect to the directionof their movement) to place behind the same only through the apertures wand z, and this necessarily with comparative slowness, the force of thespring will be cushioned, and by reason of the change in the leverage011 arm m, conse: quent on the eccentricity of its fulcrum on axle fwith respect to the pintle of the hinge or axis of movement 0' of thedoor and the variation of the spring g, the door will move toward aclosed position, first with a comparatively quick motion and then to afully closed position with a comparatively slow motion.

By varying the extent of the apertures 2, which may be accomplished bythe plungerrod 1), as described, the quickness or slowness with whichthe door may be closed can be regulated, the operation of the springs 3due to the temperature of the liquid in the cup, automatically movingvalves m to open or close the apertures w, so as to accommodate thecontrivance to the thickness or thinness of the liquid in the cup, asthe same may be varied by the atmospheric temperature. The ball-jointconnection of the link q with the lever or arm on and the arm 1) ofbracket 1) operates to prevent binding of the parts as the door isopened or closed,and the fulcrum of lever on on axle f changes withrespect to the axis of movement 0 of the door.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement ofparts constituting my improvements without departing from the nature orspirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is- 1.In a door-check, an arm m and its connections with a door, a cylindercomprising a combined spring-casing and liquid-cup, the latter beingprovided with partitions and ports for the flow of liquid from one sideof the partitions to the other, an axle extending through said casingand into said cup and connected with said arm, a spring in said casingconnected with said axle, and wings, also connected with said axle andarranged to operate on opposite sides of the partitions in saidliquid-cup,combined and operatingsubstantially as hereinbefore setforth.

2. In a door-checlqa spring-actuated arm and connections with the door,an axle to which said arm is secured, a liquid-cup into which said axleextends, wings connected with said axle and arranged in said cup, andvalve provided partitions between which said wings are arranged tooperate, combined and arranged substantially as and for the purposehereinbefore set forth.

3. In a door-check, a spring-actuated arm,

a bracket adapted to be afiixed to the door, a link or rod connectedwith said arm and bracket by means of ball-and-socket joints,

an axle to which said arm is secured, a liquidcup into which said axleextends, wings connected with said axle and arranged in said cup, andvalve-provided partitions between which said wings are arranged tooperate, combined and arranged substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. In a door-check, the combination,with the spring-actuated arm at andits connections with the door, and the axle f, provided with the wings'0, having apertures 10, valves 00, and springs 11, controlling saidvalves, of the combined spring-casing and liquid-cup, the latterprovided with thepartitions 3, having the apertures 15 andclapper-valves u, substantially as set forth.

5. In a door-check, avalve and its support provided with an aperture orport, the valve being pivoted to the support, in combination with aspring composed of the metals 2 3, one end of said spring beingrigidlyheld and the other connected with said valve, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

6. In a door-check, the combination, with the liquid-cup, of theapertured wing and its actuating mechanism, a valve pivoted to said wingand adapted to operate over the aperture therein, and a spring composedof the metals 2 3, one end of said spring being secured to said wing andthe other end connected with said valve, as set forth.

7. In a door-check, a spring-actuated arm and its connections with thedoor, combined with a liquid-cup, an axle or spindle connected with saidarm and extending into said cup, wings connected with said axle foracting upon the liquid in said cup, said axle or spindle being providedwith a longitudinal hole or aperture and lateral aperturesconimunicating with said longitudinal aperture, and a stopple-rod orplunger arranged in said longitudinal hole or aperture, as set forth.

8. A door-check embracing in its construction a cylinder adapted to holdsuitable liquid, an oscillatory shaft in the said cylinder, a partitionin the said cylinder extending parallel with the said shaft, a wing orpiston attached at right angles to the said shaft to operate on theliquid, and a suitable port to permit the flow of liquid as the shaft isoscillated, as set forth.

9. A door-check embracing in its construction a cylinder, an oscillatoryshaft in the said cylinder, a partition extending at right angles to theshaft dividing the cylinder into two apartments, one of which is adaptedto hold suitable liquid, a partition in the said liquid-apartmentextending parallelwith the said shaft, a wing or piston in theliquid-apartment attached at right angles to the said shaft to operateon the liquid,asuitable port to permit the flow of liquid as the shaftis oscillated, and a spring in the other apartment connected with thesaid shaft, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 26th day of March, A. D.1889.

EUGENE I. BLOUNT.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CROSSLEY, A. D. HARRISON.

